A guide to the Timberwolves’ pending free agents
By Paul Ibrahim
Marcus Georges-Hunt and Aaron Brooks
Let’s start with this: I grouped these two together because I don’t have much to say.
If the success of the Warriors, Celtics, and Raptors this past year has taught us anything, it is that benchwarmers are a thing of the past in the NBA. The time where a roster of 15 was comprised of two units and five very warm seats on the bench are behind us, and it’s time that the Timberwolves renovate their roster and rotation to follow the pattern of successful NBA teams: eliminate the scrubs.
Georges-Hunt showed some promise this season, but the fact remains that through 42 games, he maintained a PER of 6.9 and a defensive rating of 116, both far worse than team and NBA averages. He’ll be 24 next season, and to me it seems that he is better equipped for the Iowa Wolves.
As for Aaron Brooks, well, he is one of Thibs’ guys, and I cannot speak to what presence and effect he may or may not have on the locker room, but he rarely saw the court this season in effectual minutes. When he has, most notably in Teague’s absence, he played well, but if Thibs is unwilling to play him consistently I would much rather fill his spot with a young player who can develop.
Not re-signing these two can provide the Wolves with an extra $2.78 million in cap room — funds which they can allocate to other re-signings or use to sign a decent veteran.